Hello everyone! This weekend, something new and exciting is happening! The Diocese of Columbus is launching a new initiative called Real Presence, Real Future. This initiative is Bishop Brennan’s encouragement to all of us to have a greater devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the “source and summit of our faith.” The Eucharist is the source as we believe that Jesus is truly present – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity – in the Eucharist. He is the very source of our faith life. He feeds us and nourishes us. God so desires that we have a close, intimate relationship with Him. All relationships take work and relationships are best developed when we are in person with each other. Therefore, God gives us the miracle of the Eucharist where His Son, Jesus, is truly present to us. The Eucharist is not just as a symbol. This is why we call the Eucharist the “real presence” of Jesus. The Eucharist is also the summit, the high point of our faith to which we direct our lives. Everything we do should be because we believe that God has given us this gift of the Eucharist out of His love for us, and the way we live is our response to God’s love.
Part of this initiative already began on Ash Wednesday and you have experienced it in our participation in the 40 Days of Adoration which is a different parish hosting a full day of Adoration each day during Lent. ICC’s day was this past Sunday and OLL’s day is currently happening as I write this (Bishop Brennan might stop by to pray for a bit around 7pm..hint, hint…you might find yourself praying next to the Bishop!).
Another part of this initiative is the parish survey, the Disciple Maker Index (DMI), which I have asked everyone to take. The survey asks questions, anonymously, of everyone’s spiritual attitudes, a snapshot of the current moment. The information will help us to know in what areas we need to focus to help everyone grow spiritually in the parish.
In the DMI, one of the questions asked is if we have a personal friendship with Jesus. Many Catholics do not. There is likely a corresponding reality between one’s beliefs and one’s lived experience. If we do not believe that Jesus is personal and truly present to us here and now, then we probably will not have a good relationship with him. It is only because we believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist that it makes sense to come and be with Jesus before the Blessed Sacrament in the church. If you feel that you do not have a personal friendship with Jesus, then Adoration is for you. It may take an act of faith at the beginning to be there, but the intent is to be in the presence of the person of Jesus so that you can begin to develop your relationship with Him. The intent is to say to Him, “Jesus, I do not know you. I want to be your friend. Help me to believe. Help me in my unbelief.” Jesus called people to be his disciples in the Gospels and that is still a calling for us today. Bishop Brennan reminds us that we are all sent on mission to spread the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, he says that before we can be on mission, we need to be His disciple. Adoration is meant to be that time of sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him, adoring Him, loving Him, and letting Him love you!
You can read more about the Real Presence, Real Future (RPRF) initiative in depth in this week’s Catholic Times.
This weekend at the Masses, we will play an audio of Bishop Brennan’s message to us of this RPRF initiative. Since we do not have the capability of playing the video, it will just be the audio of it from a Smartphone held up to the microphone. The Bishop has asked every single parish in the diocese to play this video/audio this weekend so that we all launch together. He wants this widely distributed to as many people as possible so I am also inserting the video here and ask you to watch it.
Here are the videos made by the diocese of each parish’s participation in the 40 Days of Adoration:
A quote from Fulton Sheen: "I have found that it takes some time to catch fire in prayer. This has been one of the advantages of the daily Hour. It is not so brief as to prevent the soul from collecting itself and shaking off the multitudinous distractions of the world. Sitting before the Presence is like a body exposing itself before the sun to absorb its rays. Silence in the Hour is a tête-á-tête with the Lord. In those moments, one does not so much pour out written prayers, but listening takes its place. We do not say: 'Listen, Lord, for Thy servant speaks,' but 'Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.'" - Archbishop Fulton Sheen
RPRF Parish Survey
Every parish in the diocese has been asked to survey their parishioners. It takes 10-15 minutes to complete and we ask everyone to please take the survey (all adults in the household who are engaged with the parish should take the survey). The surveys are confidential and the easiest way to take the survey is online at: https://www.catholicleaders.org/columbusdmi and then select the parish. Please call the office if you need a paper survey.
We pray for the repose of the soul of Marianna Sherman, long-time parishioner of ICC, who passed away this past Wednesday evening. Her funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, March 3rd at 11am. Visitation is from 4-8pm on Tuesday evening at the funeral home. See her obituary for more info: https://www.pricefh.net/obituary/Mariana-Sherman
Eternal rest, grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Congrats to our altar server winners!
This past Sunday at the Mass at ICC, Bishop Brennan presented two of our altar servers their awards for winning the Serra Club altar server awards in 2020. Congratulations to Claire Ketcham from ICC and Sean Kuhlman from OLL!
Last Saturday, the women at each parish gathered together for a Women’s Day of Reflection. About 10 women from each parish participated in watching the talks online together and for fellowship.
Ash Wednesday collection
Thank you to those who contributed to our Ash Wednesday collection. As part of our parish almsgiving, we are giving that entire collection to JOIN which serves the needy in all 23 counties of our diocese. ICC is giving $100 and OLL is giving over $400.
Confessions
Instead of holding a penance service this Lent, I am making the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) more readily available. In addition to the regularly scheduled times for confession (Tuesdays from 6-7pm at OLL and First Saturdays at ICC from 9:30-10:30am), I will be hearing confessions starting one hour before and for one hour after Mass for one weekend at each parish. On the weekend of March 6 and 7th, I will be at ICC on Saturday from 3-3:50pm and then after Mass from 5-6pm or later if needed. Then again on Sunday morning from 8-8:50am and after Mass from 10-11am or later. At OLL, I will hear confessions on the weekend of March 13 and 14th, from 4:30pm and after Mass for an hour on Saturday. Then again, Sunday, one hour before and for one hour after. I will be using the confessionals and will be using the white noise machine.
In addition, on March 29th the Monday of Holy Week I will be hearing confessions from 4-7pm at OLL and Fr. Jeffrey will be hearing confessions at ICC from 4-7pm. This “Reconciliation Monday” is part of a diocesan-wide effort where every parish will be having confessions at that time. See the flyer.
Mass sheets at OLL
Since there are times at OLL where we do not have musicians, we will be using a new Mass setting for singing the ordinary parts of the Mass (Gloria, Holy Holy Holy, Mystery of Faith, and Lamb of God). It is a chant setting which is easy to sing without accompaniment. It is universally known in the church around the world which makes it welcoming to guests who may already know it. I have already used it at times when we have not had musicians so you may already know it. However, we have printed out laminated sheets that you may either take with you to use for each Mass or to put back (we will sanitize the sheets after Mass).
Food Pantry staffing in March for OLL
March is OLL’s month to staff the food pantry in Ada. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex. The Ada Food Pantry is located in the basement of the Presbyterian Church, the entrance to the Pantry is directly across from the outside Post Office mailbox. Open Tuesday 4-6 pm and Saturday 10 am – Noon.
Receive Covid vaccine for 65+ at Rite Aid in Ada
The Rite Aid in Ada called today to let us know that people 65+ can go there to receive their Covid vaccine.
Repeat info:
Black History Month Program
The Ethnic Ministries Office invites you to join us for our Black History Month Program to celebrate the lives of the six African American Men and Women on the Road to Sainthood. This year’s theme, Sharing Our Story: An Enduring Faith, offers an in-depth educational experience on these vibrant men and women. Every Saturday in February, 4:00pm EST., we will highlight two candidates that includes presentations by Most Rev. Joseph P. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Chicago, and featuring His Eminence the Most Reverend Wilton Cardinal Gregory on February 13 and 27. This virtual event is free to the public. A free will offering would be accepted to continue the process of canonization for these vibrant individuals. Register online at eventbrite.com/e/134671105903. Virtual doors open at 3:45pm.
February 6 Pierre Toussaint and Elizabeth Lange
February 13 Henriette Delille and Augustus Tolton
February 20 Julia Greeley and Thea Bowman
February 27 Augustus Tolton: Renewal, Restoration and Reconciliation
February 13 Henriette Delille and Augustus Tolton
February 20 Julia Greeley and Thea Bowman
February 27 Augustus Tolton: Renewal, Restoration and Reconciliation
See the “Sharing our Story” attachment.
Attached is this weekend’s worship aid, the bulletins, Reconciliation Monday flyer, Sharing Our Story.
The live-stream of the Mass will take place this weekend from OLL at 11am.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!
God bless!
Fr. Ed
